# 150 Square Feet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216 "2008-10-23T15:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/1 "2008-10-23T15:26:45Z")
I was reading an article somewhere on living in a very small house. The number mentioned was 150 square feet. I like the idea, but am having a hard time imagining what 150 square feet is like. An ideas? I was at the mall and looked at the parking spaces. Maybe about nine feet across and maybe 27 feet long? So that is about 250 square feet. Does that sound about right? What does 150 square feet look like? Any thoughts on a small cottage? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/2 "2008-10-23T15:34:26Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > I was reading an article somewhere on living in a very small house. The number mentioned was 150 square feet. > > I like the idea, but am having a hard time imagining what 150 square feet is like. An ideas? Your average American suburban bedroom, with closet. (Perhaps add a foot or so to either edge, but not _too_ much more.) ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/3 "2008-10-23T15:37:23Z")
Mark off a 10 by 15 foot rectangle. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/4 "2008-10-23T15:39:16Z")
Think of a 10 x 15 foot room. 3 x 4.5 meter Area = width times length ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/5 "2008-10-23T15:40:56Z")
I think you’re overestimating the size of a parking space. According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_space) the average size is 8-9 ft by 16-18 ft, or 128-162 sq. ft. IOW, it sounds like your Parking Space idea is probably a good visual idea. Another one I thought of is cubicles. I think an average cubicle is either around 6x6 or 6x8. If it’s the former, you get about 4 of those, if it’s the latter, you get about 3. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/6 "2008-10-23T15:41:19Z")
If you find a place with square foot floor tiles, it’s easy to get a feel for how big the space would be. The quick answer is not very big. Out of curiosity was [this](http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/22/tiny.houses/index.html) the article? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/7 "2008-10-23T16:11:31Z")
Five four by eight chunks of plywood would be 160 square feet. Use 1 for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, one for the dining room, one for the living room, and one for the bedroom. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/8 "2008-10-23T16:23:45Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Five four by eight chunks of plywood would be 160 square feet. > Use 1 for the bathroom, one for the kitchen, one for the dining room, one for the living room, and one for the bedroom. That is a very clear mental picture. Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/9 "2008-10-23T16:33:34Z")
The CNN news article actually had pictures of the things: > **[Downsizing to 100 square feet of bliss - CNN.com](https://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/22/tiny.houses/index.html)** > > Bill and Sharon Kastrinos practice the ultimate in minimalism. They've squeezed into a 154-square-foot home that looks more like a kid's playhouse than their previous 1,800-square-foot home. Largish utility shed on wheels. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/10 "2008-10-23T16:39:56Z")
I was once offered, as office space, an empty elevator shaft. I pointed out that it was less than 100 square feet of space. The admin guy kept pointing out how cool the 4 story ceiling was. We had a few funny conversations about the situation (and they echoed!). ---
**Author:** ![Soggy\_Biscuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Soggy\_Biscuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soggy_Biscuit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/11 "2008-10-23T16:58:04Z")
I lived in an apartment that was 180 square feet once, including the bathroom. It was in a building that was a hotel in the 1950s and didn’t have a window. $200 a month, all bills paid. I liked it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/12 "2008-10-23T16:58:52Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > The CNN news article actually had pictures of the things: > > [Downsizing to 100 square feet of bliss - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/22/tiny.houses/index.html) > > Largish utility shed on wheels. I found that article not-so-helpful as it had no interior photographs. Here is another link with a number of ideas. > **[designboom | architecture & design magazine](https://www.designboom.com/)** > > est. 1999 designboom is the first and most popular digital magazine for architecture & design culture. daily news for a professional and creative audience. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/13 "2008-10-23T17:00:11Z")
There’s a company that makes these places called Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Their website is down right now, but you can check out a tour of one of their homes on the Tiny House Blog: [Tumbleweed Tiny House Tour - Tiny House Blog](http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/tumbleweed-tour/) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/14 "2008-10-23T17:01:41Z")
# Oh, page two of my link has a youtube of the interior of the tumbleweed home. Yikes! This guy’s less than 100 square-foot house is insane. Forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/15 "2008-10-23T18:06:52Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > I was once offered, as office space, an empty elevator shaft. I pointed out that it was less than 100 square feet of space. The admin guy kept pointing out how cool the 4 story ceiling was. We had a few funny conversations about the situation (and they echoed!). That’s rather big for an elevator shaft. I guess you could install a stairs with platforms and quadruple your space. You could have done one of those house of the future rooms where the floor moves up and down, to use the office, kitchen, bathroom, and filing room. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/16 "2008-10-23T18:26:51Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > I was once offered, as office space, an empty elevator shaft. I pointed out that it was less than 100 square feet of space. The admin guy kept pointing out how cool the 4 story ceiling was. We had a few funny conversations about the situation (and they echoed!). I hope that was the kind of job that let you start on the ground floor. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/17 "2008-10-23T18:27:48Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > That’s rather big for an elevator shaft. I guess you could install a stairs with platforms and quadruple your space. You could have done one of those house of the future rooms where the floor moves up and down, to use the office, kitchen, bathroom, and filing room. It woulda been cool. The space was never used for an elevator, so it was clean. It was a non-profit animal shelter that got a huge donation earmarked for structural renovation. They were in a hurry to spend the money, and in a great example of haste making waste, the construction people were given the wrong set of blueprints. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/18 "2008-10-23T18:32:56Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > The CNN news article actually had pictures of the things: > > [Downsizing to 100 square feet of bliss - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/22/tiny.houses/index.html) > > Largish utility shed on wheels. Just to reiterate, that example is 98 square feet, with a 56 sq ft loft. 150 sq ft on one level would seem palatial ! I lived in a not-so-tiny house that must have been about 250-300 sq ft and it was fine for one person. It was about 1/3 bigger than this (like if the right side was the same as the left): [http://www.innoftheshepherd.org/images/small%20house.jpg](http://www.innoftheshepherd.org/images/small%20house.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/19 "2008-10-23T18:48:40Z")
[Boxhome](http://www.dwell.com/homes/new/15042286.html?page=1) is apparently 19 square meters (approximately 200 square feet). ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216/20 "2008-10-23T20:05:54Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Just to reiterate, that example is 98 square feet, with a 56 sq ft loft. > > 150 sq ft on one level would seem palatial ! I lived in a not-so-tiny house that must have been about 250-300 sq ft and it was fine for one person. There’s a 3 picture “slide show” in that link. The first one (the red thing) is the 154 sq ft one referenced in the article, as indicated by the owner’s names (The Kastrinos). The second two are the 100 sq ft one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/150-square-feet/469216.md?page=2)